Rabbits are everywhere in Prospect Hill. They eat the Swiss chard and lettuce in people’s gardens. But one little brown rabbit eats dog biscuits!

Dale Kinser has made friends with this one. He talks to it. They watch each other with trust and patience. It recognizes his voice and comes out freely into the yard. It also recognizes the vibrations of his footsteps. And when he approaches the garage in his red pick-up truck, the rabbit sits up with its ears up high, listening for the familiar sound.

The rabbit has made a home under a bush in Dale’s yard. Dale noticed as it began to explore tentatively around the fenced grassy yard. It seemed to know that it was safe, and more and more often it stayed out under the trees. Sometimes it lay out on its back with its legs stretched out as if enjoying the sunshine. It didn’t run away when he came out. So he began to talk to it.

Dale keeps a bag of dog biscuits in his garage, and always has one for his friend Rita next door. But one day when the rabbit was in the yard he sat down low so that he wouldn’t look so big and frightening to the rabbit. He talked to it softly and encouraged it to come closer. Bit by bit the rabbit approached and finally took the dog biscuit from Dale’s hand. He didn’t dash away with his prize, but sat nearby calmly munching.

Now that is a regular occurrence between the two friends.

Dale Kinser is 85 years old and has lived in Prospect Hill for many years. He had a big tame white rabbit at one time, but he gave it to a friend. Later he learned that the rabbit won first prize at the county fair. But this is the first wild brown rabbit he has ever known. This rabbit deserves a prize too.